Catheter Electroactive Elements Shape Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical catheters face challenges in navigating complex vasculature without guide members, requiring additional aids that increase cost and complexity, and struggle to maintain shape and stiffness for effective procedures like thrombus aspiration.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of electroactive elements, such as nickel titanium alloys, piezoelectric materials, and thermoelectric elements, along the catheter body that contract in response to electrical signals to change shape and stiffness, allowing for controlled navigation and procedure-specific configurations without generating excessive heat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If traditional catheters are used without guide members, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but the ability to navigate complex vasculature and maintain shape control is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical guide members with electroactive elements that use electrical signals to control catheter shape and navigation. The electroactive elements (such as shape memory alloys or piezoelectric materials) substitute for traditional mechanical steering mechanisms, eliminating the need for external guide wires while maintaining navigation capability through electrical actuation of the catheter body itself
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter incorporates electroactive elements that enable dynamic shape changes along the catheter body. These elements allow the catheter to actively adjust its configuration in response to electrical signals, providing real-time shape control for navigating complex vasculature and maintaining optimal positioning during procedures like thrombus aspiration
2Measurement precision
If electroactive elements are used to steer the catheter, then navigation precision is improved, but heat generation within the catheter may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully selects electroactive materials and operating parameters to achieve precise steering while controlling heat generation. By optimizing the electrical signal parameters (voltage, current, pulse duration) and selecting materials with favorable thermal properties, the system achieves accurate catheter positioning without generating excessive heat that could damage surrounding tissue or the catheter itself
3Strength
If the catheter is made stiffer for effective thrombus aspiration, then procedure efficacy is improved, but navigability through complex vasculature is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is divided into multiple segments or zones, each containing electroactive elements that can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows different portions of the catheter to have different stiffness characteristics at different times - the distal portion can be softened for navigation while the proximal portion maintains stiffness for procedural effectiveness, with the ability to dynamically adjust stiffness distribution as needed
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise steering and stiffness adjustment of the catheter within the vasculature, reducing the need for guide members and improving the efficacy of procedures like thrombus aspiration by maintaining optimal shape and stiffness without heat-induced complications.
Implementation Method 1
one or more electroactive elements in at least one of the proximal portion or the distal portion of the elongated body, the one or more electroactive elements each comprising a contractive material configured to contract in response to an application of an electrical signal to the respective electroactive element
Implementation Method 2
the electroactive elements may include a nickel titanium alloy configured to contract in response to a relatively low electrical current
Implementation Method 3
piezoelectric elements such as piezoelectric crystals or ceramics
Implementation Method 4
thermoelectric elements exhibiting the Peltier effect or Seebeck effect
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, a catheter includes an elongated body that includes a proximal portion and a distal portion, and one or more electroactive elements in at least one of the proximal portion or the distal portion of the elongated body. The one or more electroactive elements each include a contractive material configured contract in response to an application of an electrical signal to the respective electroactive element. The contraction of the electroactive elements is configured to change a dimension or a shape of the elongated body. The electroactive elements may be distributed around the elongated body at the distal portion of the elongated body, such as in different axial or radial positions. The electroactive elements may comprise a nickel titanium (NiTi) alloy having a Ni:Ti composition of about 50:50.